Long single crystalline α-Mn2O3 nanorods: facile synthesis and photocatalytic application

Single crystalline cubic sesquioxide bixbyite α-Mn2O3 nanorods have been synthesized successfully by a simple, low cost, environmental benign hydrothermal route. As synthesized γ-MnOOH were calcined at 600 °C to obtain α-Mn2O3 nanorods, which were further subjected to various characterizations. The alpha manganese sesquioxide cubic bixbyite-type oxide formation was confirmed by the XRD studies. The surface morphology and elemental analysis were explored by SEM with EDX studies, respectively. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy HRTEM and SAED showed that the α-Mn2O3 nanorods were single crystalline and were grown along the C-axis of the crystal plane. The UV–visible spectrum indicated that the absorption was prominent in the ultraviolet region. In addition, PL spectrum result of α-Mn2O3 nanorods recommended possible photocatalytic applications. The photocatalyst ensures a new platform for the decolorization of dye molecules of the harmful cationic dyes like methylene blue and rhodamine B. Possible growth mechanism and photocatalytic dye degradation mechanism were proposed for synthesized α-Mn2O3 nanorods

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Estimation of Runoff by SWAT Model in Noyyal River Basin

Accurate assessment of water balance components holds paramount importance for the sustainable management of water resources in river basins. This study specifically concentrates on the application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to evaluate water balance elements within the Noyyal River basin, a tributary of the Kaveri River originating from the Vellingiri hills in Western Tamil Nadu grapples with escalating water stress brought about by both anthropogenic activities and climatic fluctuations. The methodology adopted encompasses the harmonious integration of diverse spatial and temporal datasets. These datasets are seamlessly incorporated within the confines of a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework. Through the process of watershed delineation 21 sub-basin was partitioned and which is further subdivided into 217 unique Hydrological Response Units (HRUs) are derived, each corresponding to a distinct hydrological reaction. The simulation employs 33 years of daily precipitation, coupled with minimum and maximum temperature records, enabling the continuous execution of the SWAT model for runoff prediction. The findings elucidate fluctuating runoff volumes over time, spanning from a minimum of 11.17 mm to a maximum of 610.32 mm. Notably, the annual average runoff stands at 206.7 mm, representing approximately 25.6% of the cumulative rainfall experienced within the Noyyal river basin

Determination of the magnetostrictive response of nanoparticles via magnetoelectric measurements

It is successfully demonstrated that nanoparticle’s magnetostriction can be accurately determined based on the magnetoelectric effect measured on polymeric-composite materials. This represents a novel, simple and versatile method for the determination of particle’s magnetostriction at their nano-sized and dispersed state, which is, up to date, a difficult and imprecise task.The manuscript was written through contributions of all authors. All authors have given approval to the final version of the manuscript. The authors would like to thank FEDER through the COMPETE Program and to the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2014 and the project Matepro –Optimizing Materials and Processes”, ref. NORTE-070124-FEDER-000037”, co-funded by the “Programa Operacional Regional do Norte” (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), under the “Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional” (QREN), through the “Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional” (FEDER). P. Martins and M. Silva acknowledges also support from FCT (SFRH/BPD/96227/2013 and SFRH/SFRH/BD/70303/2010 grants respectively)